Dear Lovelies,
Did you know there are eight types of love? According to the Greeks anyway. Most of us are familiar with eros and agape, and maybe even philia or storge, as these are types of love in the Bible. When looking for the definition of these types of love, I came across a list of eight. I thought it was interesting, especially for a February article, so I want to share them with you.
- Eros – romantic love; passion; attraction. That initial thrill of a relationship.
- Philia – the love of deep, long-lasting friendships. A love that allows confidence, trust, and respect on a personal level.
- Storge – familial love. Immediate family or close family friends, reinforced by blood, early memories, and familiarity. Deeply rooted in memory.
- Agape – selfless love; a compassionate love for everyone. It’s pure and conscious, unconditional.
- Ludus – flirtatious and fun; “crushing” on someone; the first stages of interest
- Pragma – an enduring, practical love. It requires commitment, a conscious choice; it is a developing kind of love through bonding and shared experiences.
- Mania – an obsessive love, imbalanced. A love that needs a healthier balance of affection.
- Pilautia – a love of self. Self-love and self-compassion. A building block love: a love of self allows more love for others.
Even though I use it with abandon, I do think the word “love” is used too much and sometimes loses meaning. It’s interesting to take our one word for love and split, or rather redefine it, into eight distinctions. I imagine most of us have experienced most, if not all, of these different types of love. What kind of love do we have for God? What kind of love does God have for us? Probably several different types.
Something to ponder.
So, in the spirit of love…. Love you, friends. (Definition: mostly agape – though, depending, some of the others apply too!)
Happy Day!
Traci Billman, Director of Christian Education
Last modified: January 26, 2026